WWE: 27 Historical Videos You Must Watch to Build Your Wrestling Education

The magical universe of WWE...

It's filled with glamour, strength and pride. There is so much rich history to this company.

This is the time of year when new fans join the WWE Universe. On April 1 is the show of shows, after all, and one cannot simply start watching that and understand what is going on.

In honor of the approaching WrestleMania XXVIII, here are some amazing videos and moments rounded up in order to educate those who have never watched before.

A sort of way to roll out the red carpet and welcome the occasional and lifelong people who are about to see one of the greatest shows on Earth.

It is time...

Hulkamania Begins

The greatest phenomenon in all of pro-wrestling...then, now and forever.

Hulkamania was born on Jan. 23, 1984, in Madison Square Garden, NYC. Hulk Hogan took the world by storm and held the WWE championship for four long years. He faced everyone in his time and made this company a force to fear.

There are three people who can honestly claim they actually made pro-wrestling. The Hulkster is one of them.

He is known as the Immortal One and rightfully so. If it weren't for him, no one would be here reading articles on WWE or watching WrestleMania in April. 

He is and was that important.

WrestleMania

1985 was the year it happened...WrestleMania, the greatest show in the history of pro wrestling.

Vince McMahon was the genius behind it all, and he bet everything he had on this one. Lucky for him, he won his bet, and his empire grew to stellar heights. With no competition in sight, the sky is hardly the limit.

WrestleMania on the moon?

The Rock and Wrestling Connection

Watch part two here.

To bridge the gap between sports and entertainment, Vince McMahon struck a deal with celebrities of Hollywood and music. Every year, WWE outdoes itself and finds someone of important magnitude to grace the squared circle.

In 1985, Cyndi Lauper was the one to make headlines as she allied herself with Diva Wendi Richter in her feud with Capt. Lou Albano and Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah.

She helped her protege end the 28-year reign of one of the most decorated Divas of all time and was honored by being one of the first celebrities to participate in the very first WrestleMania show.

Others followed suit afterwards. Liberace, Vanna White, Sn00ki...those are just a handful of names but the Rock and Wrestling Connection lives on to this day.

World Wrestling Entertainment is what this all evolved into, and it goes way beyond what its creator has expected.

Ric Flair Wins His Very First World Championship

This is not related to WWE at all, but it is still very important to watch as Ric Flair is one of the greatest Legends and Hall of Famers ever.

He has won a historical 16 world championships, a record still holding, and various other second-tier titles throughout his illustrious career.

On Sept. 17, 1981, the "Nature Boy" met and defeated another Hall of Famer and then-NWA World Champion Dusty Rhodes after a bloody match of almost 25 minutes.

Ric Flair is an immortalized name now and must be studied if one is ever to be well-versed in pro wrestling history.

Enter: John Cena

A bearer of Ruthless Aggression? The future face of the company? Who knew?

John Cena is the leader and carrier of the WWE banner. Whether he is a second incarnation of a young Hulk Hogan is debatable, but like him or not, the man has greatly influenced this business.

He is set to have perhaps the most watched match of all time this coming April when he faces The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII.

Starting out with red tights and a little Tin-Tin haircut, John Cena has evolved into his own being and has millions of fans worldwide, as women and children chant his "You Can't See Me" and "The Time Is Now" lines every week.

You may not like the character, but the man deserves respect.

Dwayne Johnson Arrives as Rocky Maivia

The most electrifying man in all of sports entertainment and the People's Champion, The Rock arrived on the scene in 1996 with a whole other style and hairdo to his persona.

Dwayne Johnson is a third-generation Superstar with an attitude and skills that are perhaps unmatched by any other. He became The Rock and took the WWE by storm right up to today as he sets his sights on Miami, Florida and WrestleMania XXVIII.

Everybody knows him, even non-wrestling fans. He physically left the company in the 2000s after accomplishing everything there was to do, but his spirit remained and now he's back and the people are going nuts.

Who made pro wrestling? Three names come to mind: Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and The Rock.

Austin 3:16

Stone Cold Steve Austin.

He made Vince McMahon the emperor of pro wrestling. He is one of three icons who most certainly made this business, and his career achievements are legendary.

Just by uttering the words Austin 3:16, he won over millions of people and still remained a villainous character, something that hadn't been seen before.

He took the WWE by storm and started feuding with fellow Legend Bret Hart, which culminated in one of the best matches of his career at WrestleMania XIII. He came in hated but left bloodied and beloved like no other.

His attitude, way of life and "charm" helped the company turn the tide in the Monday Night Wars of the late 90s.

Thank you, Steve Austin, for that. If it weren't for you, everyone would be watching Dubya See Dubya.

The Undertaker Arrives

Watch the full match here and there. 

There will never be a more unique and spectacular character in pro wrestling than The Undertaker.

As the dead man, countless bodies lay at his feet. Legends, veterans and future Superstars all fall prey to the destructive power of the "Tombstone" piledriver. 

He is undefeated at WrestleMania with a streak that stands at 19-0. No one can stop this phenom.

HBK...Three Letters, One Legend

Shawn Michaels was perhaps the best performer of all time, whether on the mic or in the ring.

Once part of the high-flying team The Rockers, Michaels went through opponents with speed and style like no other, but it was on his own that his true potential was revealed.

The very first Grand Slam Winner is now a Hall of Famer and had a legendary career despite injuries and battles against personal demons.

\His matches were often of four or five-star quality and were associated with ground-breaking moments (ladder matches, Iron-Man matches, Hell in a Cell, etc...)

Studying Shawn Michaels' career is essential for anyone wanting to become a Superstar or even a Diva. New fans worldwide need to watch and learn to get the real feel of all the glamour of pro wrestling.

There are too many great spots, promos and matches in this man's career to illustrate in just one slide. 

HBK lives on and still makes his presence known in the WWE even though he retired in 2010. 

The Best There Is, the Best There Was and the Best There Ever Will Be!

The one and only, Bret "Hitman" Hart, Canada's own.

He loves to refer to himself as "the excellence of execution" and with good reason. His matches have always been met with precision, and despite his not being of Hulk Hogan or Batista stature, nothing and no one prevented him from defeating every single top performer there was.

Bret is a Hall of Famer and multi-time champion in every category. Though his late career was met with controversy (Montréal) and tragedy (brother Owen's death, severe concussion and career-ending stroke) he still managed to find a way to rise above these challenges and make peace with his past.

There is no telling how many more accomplishments this legendary icon could have achieved had he continued. Could he have fought Undertaker at WrestleMania and ended The Streak?

On a personal note, he is my all-time favorite Superstar, and while no one believed he would get to where he's been, I never had a doubt.

You want to get into watching WWE and pro wrestling? Put some time in studying Bret Hart's stuff—it doesn't get any better than that.

The Greatest Match of All Time

Watch part two here.

This is the one to watch. You want to see perfection, look no further than "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at WrestleMania III.

It clearly stole the show that night, way beyond Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. There were so many close falls and counters. Everything was choreographed to the letter, and it won the prestigious honor of Match of the Year attributed by Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestling Observer.

Amazingly, it was for the Intercontinental championship, one that Savage held close to his heart for 14 months.

Color commentator Jesse Ventura is heard saying that this was one of the greatest matches he's ever seen. You have to believe him; he was one of the best characters ever.

Shawn, Razor and the Ladders

Watch part two here.

Hey yo! Oyame chico, everyone listen to me, Razor Ramon. This match, chico, was my favorite man (throws toothpick in your face.)

WWE has always broken the mold when it came to innovation, and WrestleMania X was no exception. This "Ladder" match had rarely been seen before, the first one really was between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels but it was on this day here that it became famous.

Two men climbing up a huge ladder, trying to claim title or briefcase and win would be something fans cheer for year after year afterwards. There were no rules, no count-outs or disqualifications, but there would always be a winner.

It was at times like these the WWE Universe could really marvel at the genius that was Shawn Michaels. He wasn't called "Mr. WrestleMania" for nothing, and his real-life close friend, Scott Hall—a.k.a Razor Ramon—was an amazing performer in his own right.

This match in 1994 was critically acclaimed by various sources and lives on as one of the best and most ground-breaking of all time. Nothing less than five stars.

WrestleMania III: Bigger, Better, Badder

WrestleMania III was held in Pontiac, Mich., and registered a crowd of 93 173, which would hold the record for indoor attendance until Feb. 14, 2010 (lost to the 2010 NBA All-Star game at Cowboy Stadium)

It was the pinnacle of success in WWE. It had surpassed all other events and made history when then-champion Hulk Hogan met and defeated his rival, Andre the Giant.

Not only did the Immortal One win, but he managed to pick up and slam the legendary giant to the ground—no one had ever done that before.

This event was larger than life and still stands as one of the best WrestleManias ever. The third edition of the show of shows may have come to pass a long time ago, but its legacy will remain as all future editions are to be held in large stadiums such as this one.

One truly gets the rush of adrenaline when part of such a large crowd. The cheers, the roar, the hype...you just don't get that from an indoor venue.

It was indeed Bigger, Better and Badder.

Lita and Trish Main Event RAW

When was the last time such hype was placed on the Divas Division?

Trish Stratus and Lita are two of the most legendary, trailblazing women ever to step into a WWE ring. Their match on Dec. 6, 2004, was also the very first women's match to ever top the RAW show, which is a great honor to any female performer.

This one was met with intensity and passion and lived up to the hype. Both Divas have been pioneers in their field, and the face of their division has greatly changed since they departed.

As a avid fan of the Divas, I cannot stress enough how important their presence is in WWE. Women are exceptional talents and performers. Some like Lita, Trish, Kharma and current champion Beth Phoenix could easily outdo any of their male counterparts if only given the opportunity.

There shall one day be another Divas main event in WWE—who will be the lucky ones?

Montreal 1997

Watch part two here. 

The most controversial moment in all of pro wrestling, now and forever. It changed the face of the business forever, and now it has been put to rest. Forgiven but never forgotten.

Bret Hart's WWE career was about to end, and Vince McMahon would never let him leave the company still holding the championship belt.

A devious plan was hatched, and the Hitman was screwed out of his title by everyone involved in the match: Shawn Michaels the opponent, Earl Hebner the referee and Mr. McMahon.

Years later, the deed is still talked about, and it can be viewed as one of the primary reasons the company went ahead with its now-famous Attitude Era.

Being Legends as they are, Hitman and HBK found a way to reach out to each other and bury the hatchet on Jan. 4, 2010. A lesson learned hopefully by all humankind.

WrestleMania X-Seven

The Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars would rage between the years 1997 and 2001 right up to the point when Vince McMahon gained the upper hand and purchased the rival WCW to end it all.

WrestleMania X-Seven had a record number of championship matches at six: Triple H had his first attempt at The Streak, the TLC Tag Team title match, Chyna took control of the Women's championship and finally, longtime rivals Stone Cold and The Rock battled for the WWF (it was only renamed WWE in 2002) championship in a no-DQ match.

The recipe was simple: great talent, great build-up and formidable matches. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this whole show was a total success and whether as a whole or for selected portions, received many acclamations and awards.

Because WCW had been disbanded, Vince McMahon sealed the fate of the Attitude Era and began to usher in the Ruthless Aggression, slowly but surely.

When Stone Cold joined forces with the boss, all hell was about to break loose in 2001. The WWE Universe went completely nuts during this event. Hopefully, it will be the same on April 1, 2012 in Miami.

Hall, Nash and the Master Plan

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash left WWE and headed south to WCW in the spring of 1996 with one thing on their mind: starting a war and taking over the world.

Their plan was simple: Invade, deceive, divide and conquer. They were successful and eventually formed the New World Order along with others like Hulk Hogan, The Giant, Syxx and Ted DiBiase.

It was a ingenious plan which nearly put WWE out of business as so many fans worldwide donned the black and white shades of the NWO.

The phrase "You're NWO 4 life" had become vernacular, and the ratings tipped the scale in favor of Ted Turner's mega organization.

Whether you know them as Razor Ramon and Diesel or their real names doesn't matter, they are forever imprinted as two of the most controversial yet powerful characters in pro wrestling history.

Hulk Hogan Turns to the Dark Side

The date: July 7, 1996 

The event: WCW Bash at the Beach

Hulk Hogan, the Immortal Icon of Wrestling since the early 80s, was about to commit a sin so great, it would start a war for supremacy that went way beyond the borders of WCW. The Monday Night Wars were about to begin.

When Scott Hall and Kevin Nash defected to World Championship Wrestling in 1996, they arrived on the scene declaring they would be taking control.

They took out all those who stood against them. With the promise to reveal their mystery partner, these so-called "Outsiders" came to Daytona that day and faced off against the best WCW had to offer.

Little did the forces of the light, if you will, realize that their enemy was one of their own: Hulk Hogan himself.

He turned his back on all friends, fans and allies to form the New World Order of Wrestling later known as the NWO.

It wouldn't be until 2002 when the poison (NWO) was injected into the WWE that the Hulkster would regain the favor of everyone around him.

WWE Strikes out WCW

After waging a vicious war for almost five years, Vince McMahon finally managed to buy out WCW and put an end to the rivalry once and for all.

It was a historical night as performers, members of the staff and fans alike had no clue what was to happen next. No one's job was really secure, and the face of this business was going to change drastically from here on.

Poor management and ridiculous storytelling brought WCW to its knees, so the chairman of WWE swept in and took everything for his own.

The bright side of this was that matches once only possible as dream matches could be made a reality as all the talent could be united under one banner.

It may not have been the case for some due to contract negotiations, but it did manage to lure Hulk Hogan, Goldberg and other prominent WCW names into the McMahon empire.

Madusa Thrashes the Women's Championship Belt

Madusa Miceli—a.k.a Alundra Blayze—was the reigning WWE Women's Champion who defected to WCW and took her title belt with her.

Not being satisfied with the conditions she was living in, Miceli decided to make an impact on Nitro. She broke kayfabe (the line where you confuse reality to script) and threw the championship in a trash can.

Judging from the way today's Divas are treated, it is surprising that current champion Beth Phoenix hasn't tried a stunt of her own lately.

To put it mildly, this event shocked the world of wrestling. Madusa never returned to WWE afterwards but is still in the possession of the belt.

Could there ever be an Undisputed Women's championship match between Madusa and the Glamazon down the line?

Hell in a Cell

This is the other great HIAC moment.

In the late 90s, WWE was involved in the Monday Night Wars and seemed to be losing the war. The ante had to be upped, and along came the concept of Hell in a Cell.

Not just your standard cage match but exactly what it was called: hell on earth. Nothing was banned, anything goes and anyone could come in—if able to, of course.

The concept has been watered down over the years with the advent of the PG Era, but the essence remains the same.

Throughout its existence, the Hell in a Cell match has always been met with excitement and shock.

Ask Mick Foley how it feels.

Hot Rod, Superfly and the Coconut

So far, there have been very serious, historical moments on this slide show, but the E in WWE stands for entertainment and you cannot have entertainment without some wacky comedy in there.

One particular moment to remember was when "Rowdy" Roddy Piper hosted a segment of Piper's Pit with Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka as his guest. They had begun a rivalry, and the Hot Rod took it to another level by making fun of his Islander visitor.

Nothing stopped him from throwing bananas, and when the Superfly looked away...Bang! One coconut smashed on his head. Piper then continued to humiliate him by giving him a good whippin'.

This is why WWE is so great at times. Anything can happen in this company, and though most of the times it is all fun and games, it can sometimes go a little too far (Natalya and her farting gimmick) which ruins everything.

Piper and the coconut is an all-time classic WWE moment.

Bret Hart Returns Home

Watch part two here.

Twelve years had passed since the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Bret Hart had come full circle with his anger and was ready to bury the hatchet once and for all. He called out his longtime rival, Shawn Michaels, and at last they made peace.

WWE has greatly changed since he left, but who knows what might have been had he not gone to WCW, had a stroke and retired. Would the WWE Universe be named as such or would everyone be watching Nitro today?

No matter, it was a sight for sore eyes to see the Hitman come home at last. His presence can still be felt today as he returns every once in a while with good reason. The current crop of talent and performers can definitely benefit from his teachings—this one is a legend.

He's beaten them all and won almost all the accolades. This moment in time is very important to remember because yes, anything can happen in WWE but even better than that, never underestimate the power of forgiveness.

Chris Jericho Becomes the Undisputed Champion

In late 2001, WWE had won the war, and WCW was no more. Now, there were two World Heavyweight championships ,but there could be only one man to hold them.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Booker T, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho were la crème de la crème at that moment; they exchanged their respective championships until it was down to three. 

On Dec. 9, 2001 at Vengeance, Chris Jericho accomplished the impossible and defeated both Rock and Austin to become the very first Undisputed Champion in all of pro wrestling. The old world was dead, and the Age of Jericho had begun.

The championship was divided in two again in mid-2002, but never doubt for a moment that someday soon, this wrong will be righted and one Superstar will stand tall as the Undisputed WWE Champion once again.

Y2J is the best in the world at what he does, and on April 1, 2012, he will have to prove it when he faces the WWE Champion, CM Punk, who is the best wrestler in the world.

The Ninth Wonder of the World

Chyna is a pioneer in the world of professional wrestling. 

She is the first woman to ever hold the Intercontinental championship, the first woman to participate in the Royal Rumble and the first woman to become No. 1 contender for the WWE championship. Unless Beth Phoenix or Kharma walk that same route, these feats will never happen again.

This woman was massive and had the strength of 10 men. As DX's enforcer, she made sure her boys were safe enough to carry on with their shenanigans and drive the McMahon family completely nuts.

It was a McMahon however, who came between her and her success and in 2001, when this awesome Diva left WWE with a broken heart and a chip on her shoulder.

Triple H, her lover of many years, had been having an affair with Stephanie McMahon on one side and on the other, Chyna wanted better conditions on her new contract.

This force of nature fell from grace and found comfort in a more adult form of entertainment after years of personal battles. 

Say what you will about her personal choice, her contribution to this sport can never be undermined nor changed.

She is and forever will be the Ninth Wonder of the World.

Kharma Is Coming to Get You

The rebirth of the Divas division has finally, finally come!

Kharma, once known as Awesome Kong, made her way to WWE in the spring of 2011, and for a short time it seemed like all the woes the Divas were afflicted with would simply vanish. In the space of a month, she took out Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse, Eve and Alicia Fox. No one knew what her purpose was yet.

Unfortunately for the WWE Universe and Divas (good for her, though) she announced her pregnancy and left just as everything was coming together. As luck would have it, she returned this past January and became the third woman to ever participate in the Royal Rumble.

Now, everyone remains anxious as WrestleMania XXVIII fast approaches and the Divas Champion, Beth Phoenix, reigns supreme and unchallenged. Will Kharma come knocking on her door? That remains to be seen.

The Divas Division has a rich history filled with incredible performers. You wish to educate yourself to begin watching wrestling? Look no further than the ladies, for they have so much to bring to the table.

The Iron Man Match

One of the greatest matches in history—so well-executed and between two Legends.

The main event of WrestleMania XII featured a WWE championship bout with Bret "Hitman" Hart defending against the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute encounter dubbed the "Iron Man" match.

Its rules were simple: The wrestler who wins the most falls in an hour is declared the winner. The funny thing was, neither of those men was ever going to lay down for the other, and it went all the way without a single pinfall.

What could have finished as a draw was ordered to continue, and it was a little taste of Sweet Chin Music that ended it.

HBK won his first World championship, and the Hitman left the WWE for a short while, insulted at being forced to go beyond the 60 minutes.

It laid the foundations, I believe, on the whole Bret/Shawn rivalry and what would come one year-and-a-half later: Montreal.

This match is a five-star, must-see spectacle. Anyone who's anyone in wrestling knows this.

There Is Room for a Hundred Slides But...

...Good things must come to an end.

Every fan of wrestling has his or her personal favorite moments; not one person is the same, and in the end it leaves room for amazing debates.

These are but a few amazing videos of the world of pro wrestling, more precisely the WWE.

There are various organizations out there with a rich history of their own. To some, the old AWA could be far more interesting than anything Vince McMahon has to offer.

It is all a question of taste.